A Love So True by Melissa Jagears

Once again, Melissa Jagears has penned a book that tugs at your heartstrings as the heroine strives to help orphans and women of the red-light district to achieve a better life. With A Love So True, the second release in her "Teaville Moral Society", Ms. Jagears has presented a tough subject matter in a way that makes the reader want to help the characters. While this is the second book in the series, it can be read as a stand-alone. However, I would suggest you also read the first book in the series, A Heart Most Certain, (read my review here) as it introduces characters that also populate this book.

Back Cover:

     Evelyn Wisely loves working at the local orphanage, but her heart can't ignore the women of Teaville who are also in need. Her boss is willing to help build a shelter for them, but only if she gains the cooperation and financial support of other local businessmen.

     

     While David Kingsman plans to stay in Teaville just long enough to get his father's business back on solid ground, he's intrigued by Evelyn's cause and finds himself more invested with each passing day.

     Will their plans and partnership fall apart when confronted with all that is stacked against them, or can they trust in God's plan despite it all:

My Review:

The book takes place in the year 1908 and addresses the red-light district of Teaville, Kansas and one woman's dream of helping not only the orphans of the town, but also the broken women in the red-light district as well as their children. The main character, Evelyn Wisely makes it her mission to open up a home for these women who would like to get out of their pain-filled lives and become upstanding women, holding jobs and providing for their children. But Evelyn can't do it alone, she needs help and seeks her boss out to see if he will help.

Evelyn's boss, Nicholas, tells her that he will help but only if she can get support and financial backing of upstanding businessmen in the community. Enter the hero in the form of one David Kinsman, who is temporarily living in Teaville while he is attempting to get his father's new business back on solid ground. When he meets Evelyn, he finds himself intrigued and soon finds himself wanting to help her in her quest.

Both Evelyn and David are strong, well-defined characters that had me wrapped around their little fingers right off the bat. I loved Evelyn's heart for the "underdogs" and I especially loved how David put himself and his health in harms way to help Evelyn and the orphan son of red-light woman. The scenes written around this incident touched me deeply and were some of my favorite parts of this book.

This book is about loving without judging, forgiveness, getting over past hurts, and finding God's grace in the midst of an ugly world. It is a book that will touch your spirit and make you think about the world we live in today.

I would highly suggest this book to anyone who enjoys a good Christian Historical. Although, because of the subject matter, I don't believe it is a book for younger readers.

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank the author, Melissa Jagears, for my complimentary copy of A Love So True. I was given the book for free in order to read it and give my honest opinion.

Smiles & Blessings,

If I'm Found by Terri Blackstock

I am a huge fan of Christian Suspense novels and last year I chose a book off my Kindle to read and completed it in less than a day. That book was Terri Blackstock's book, If I Run, (read my review here). which was the first book in her "If I Run" series. Needless to say, I was hooked. Not just on the series but on Ms. Blackstock's writing. 

ABOUT THE BOOK:

IS DYLAN HUNTING CASEY TO PROSECUTE HER OR PROTECT HER?

     Casy Cos is still on the run, fleeing prosecution for a murder she didn't commit. Dylan Roberts--her most relentless pursuer--is still on her trail, but his secret emails insist he knows the truth and wants to help her. He's let her escape before when he had her in his grasp, but trust doesn't come easily.
     As Casey works to collect evidence about the real murderers, she stumbles on another unbearable injustice: an abused child and a suicidal man who's also been falsely accused. casey risks her own safety to right this wrong and protect the little girl from her tormentors. But doing so is risky and may result in her capture --and if she's captured, she has no doubt she'll be murdered before she ever steps foot in a jail cell.
     In this riveting sequel to the USA TODAY bestseller If I Run, evil lurks, drawing Casey out of the shadows...but there is light shining in the darkness.

MY REVIEW:

While you could read this book without reading the first book in the series, If I Run, I wouldn't advise it as the this book is a continuation of the first book, and because the first book was so good you really must read it first.

From the first sentence, "The police lights in my rearview mirror almost destroy me." to the very last I was catapulted into a fast paced, sit on the edge of your seat, good guys versus bad guys pursuit that literally left me breathless. Had I had the time I would have read it in one sitting as it was one of those books you just don't want to put down.

Casey is the heroine of the series that has been wrongfully accused of the murder of her friend. She seems to stay just one step ahead of the real killers while trying to gather evidence that will not only clear her name but put the killers behind bars. Enter, Dylan, while he has been hired to find her, he has realized she is innocent and is now using his job to find her as a way to help clear her of everything she has been accused of doing.

In the first book, Ms. Blackstock gave us a sub-plot that was full of danger and helped create more mystery into the story line. Don't worry, in If I Run, she has added another sub-plot that takes the reader into a different direction allowing the reader to see even deeper into Casey's heart. 

I loved the Christian thread that was woven into the story as well because it let the reader see that there is hope even in your darkest of hours. 

As mentioned before, you will want to read the first book in the series as this is a continuation series. In fact, the reader is left hanging as far as the major plotline. However, the subplot is tied up quite nicely and the relationship between Casey and Dylan, well, lets just say, I was happy with the way they left things...for now anyway. I can hardly wait for book three, If I Live, which releases in March 2018.

I would highly recommend this series to anyone who loves a good sit-on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense novel. It is fast paced and heart pounding and well worth your time between the pages.

I would like to thank BookLook Bloggers and Zondervan for my copy of If I'm Found. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review.

On a 5-Star Scale = 5 Stars!!!!!


Smiles & Blessings,